Pet Hospice: Help for Dying Pets

This compassionate alternative to pet euthanasia could help ease your dog's or cat's suffering as well as your own

The news no one wants to hear — a beloved dog or cat is
terminally ill — often leads to a decision no one wants to make: Allow the pet to
pass naturally over the Rainbow Bridge or put him to sleep so he doesn’t suffer.

But there’s a third option: animal hospice, or
“pawspice” as it’s sometimes called. Like hospice care for people, it provides
pain relief and compassionate end-of-life medical treatment for pets, giving the
humans who love them a chance to say goodbye.

"Hospice care allows everyone in the family to wrap
their heads around this very sad time. A dog owner may even have a bucket list
of things she wants to do with her pet, like go to the beach or the mountains
one more time, or let the dog have as many burgers as he wants," says Gail
Bishop, clinical director of
The Argus Institute at Colorado State University's College of Veterinary
Medicine, the only such program affiliated with a veterinary school.

How a hospice team helps

A pet hospice team is led by a veterinarian and typically
staffed with a technician and caregivers (some may be volunteers). The team is
trained in palliative care and pain control.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA),
a pet hospice team will guide you in assessing your dog's or cat's pain
and quality of life and recognizing signs of organ failure. If you’re willing
and capable, the team also may teach you how to
give medication or provide necessary treatments.

Pet hospice not only eases an animal’s transition, it educates, supports and prepares pet owners for what’s to come. This
was the aspect of hospice care Debra Abrams appreciated most when her cat
Sylvester was succumbing to endocrine problems. Veterinary student volunteers
from CSU visited periodically. "Their attitude was, 'How can we help you
navigate this?'" says Debra. "They also gave me a professional perspective
on what was going on with Sylvester."

How to find hospice care for your pet

Your own veterinarian will likely know of a vet in your area
who provides hospice care. Another option is to contact the nearest veterinary
college. The
International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) has a searchable member directory. (At the moment, there is no certification required to be an
animal hospice veterinarian, but the IAAHPC has designated a special committee
to develop one.)

Once you've found a home hospice practice, be sure the vet
and her staff can offer good medical management of your pet's symptoms and will be
available to you and your family.

CSU's Bishop suggests asking the following questions:

How long has the veterinarian been offering pet hospice
services?

How often will a hospice staff person visit?

What is the after-hours policy?

What is the euthanasia policy? Will the hospice
veterinarian provide this service in your home?

What is their stance on natural death? How do they ensure
that your pet will not suffer? Can they provide adequate palliative care?

Does the hospice offer pet
loss support if you need it? If not, can they refer you to such a service?

The cost of pet
hospice care

Hospice care for pets isn’t free. For starters, home visits from the vet usually cost more than office visits. Typically, Bishop says,
you’re charged one fee by the hospice vet for the first home visit, which is
quite lengthy, and a smaller amount for subsequent visits.

If you can’t be home all day to care for your ailing pet,
you may have to pay someone to come in to give him medication and make
sure he’s comfortable. An ill dog may need more frequent walks and a sick cat
may need some human attention during the day. (You also may be able to find a pet sanctuary that will care for your pet and where you can visit often. Just make sure it's supervised by a licensed veterinarian.)

The costs of medications and treatments can be high, too. However,
if a pet has cancer, the cost of palliative care may be less than the cost of
surgery and chemotherapy. (Note that if you’ve decided to treat your animal’s
condition aggressively, he won’t be a candidate for hospice care.)

When considering hospice care, be honest with the veterinarian
and hospice team about how much time and money you realistically can commit to
your pet’s care. Ask in advance about costs of the first visit, subsequent
visits and home euthanasia if that becomes necessary.

Dianne Lange is a Lake Tahoe-based freelance writer specializing in health and travel. She is the author of four books on cancer and a former editor at SELF, Health, Natural Health and Prevention. Her work has appeared on websites such as RealAge.com, SymptomFind.com, WebMD and Everyday Health.